Workholder for embroidering machines



Jan. 6, 1925 1,521,837

c. E. R'uEscH WORKHOLDER FOR EMBROIDERING MACHINES Filed Dec. 23, 1921 99 v/ak/l INVENTOR.

#75 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

U H E STATES PATENT onion.

CHARLES E. RUESCH, on WEST HoBoKEn, NEW JERSEY, ASS-IGNOR or ONE-HALF To EMIL PULVEE, or 'WEST HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

WORKHOLDER FOR EMBROIDERING MACHINES.

Application filed December 23, 1921. Serial No. 524,359.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. RUESCH,

a citizen of Switzerland, and resident of est Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVorkholders for Embroidering Machines, of which the following is a specification.

In the use of embroidering machines in which a large number of pieces of work or repeats are simultaneously embroidered by the action of the needles and their adjuncts, it has been found that the work-holders or spanners are deficient in several respects, one deficiency being that the opening in the holder or frame across which the work is stretched or spanned is so'restricted in area as to prevent the embroidering of a relatively large sized design, while the work is held in the one position, thereby necessitating the intermittent removal ofthe work from the holder when a portion of the design has been done, and the replacement of the work int-he holder, in a shifted or changed position, in order to continue with another portion of the design, and so on until the entire design is completely embroidered, in the desired place on the work. This restriction in the field of embroidering on the work and the necessary stopping of the machine to shift the work in the holder in order to continue the design, not only entails a loss of time in the operation, but also results in great inaccuracy in the work and consequent defective reproductions of the design, as it ispractically impossible to re-set the work in the holder in true or correct position with respect to the needle, so as to be able to start in the right place on the design, and this causes gaps or distortions in the design and to that extent spoils the finished piece of work. Another drawback to work holders as heretofore used in large gangs or repeats, has been that the work when stretched or spanned over the work-opening in the holder or frame, was not held securely at all points or sides surrounding said opening, and in some cases the work has merely beenheld or gripped along opposite points leaving the work material free or unsecured at the other two opposite sides. Still another drawback to the known forms of work-holders used in sets of considerable number or repeats, has been that the workopening was of such shape or configuration as to prevent the same from being brought close to each other, with the result that much space has been demanded thereby, so that but comparatively few repeats could be done in one machine. ments, I seek to overcome theseas well as other drawbacks to the old forms of "workholders, and to these ends my invention consists in the various novel and. peculiar constructions and arrangements of the dif-J,

ferent parts of the work holding means, all as hereinafter fully set forth and then pointed out in the claims. I

I have illustrated a type of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1, is a View in elevation of av set of work-holders embodying my invention, there being four in numberand with a piece of Work being shown as spanned across the work-opening of three of the holders. The set is composed of five plates with the end ones shown as partly broken away."

Fig. 2, is a similar view of a set of the holders, but with the work removed and the holders spaced wider apart than in Fig. 1,

so as to enlarge or expand the work-openings thereof. I v

Fig. 3, 1s an enlarged elevational view By my present improve of a single work-holder composed of two adjacent plates one of which is partlybroken away and its support shown in part, the work being shown as stretched across the work-opening and the embroidered. design 1 as completed on the work. I

Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 7, are sectional views of the work-holdercomprising two adjacent adjustable plates for expanding the work-opening, the planes of the sections of said Figures being indicatedbylines 14:,

5-5, 66 and 7-7, respectively, in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a view ofa modified form of the work-holder, shown as formed of one member or plate having a non-expansible work-opening.

Referring to the drawings, in whichlike numerals of reference designate like parts throughout, 1, 1, are suitably spaced parallel supporting-members upon which aremounted a series of my improved work holders or spanners 2, 2, which are-so constructed and arranged as to provide a peculiar and novel form of work-opening 3, some of the important features of which are the rightangled part formed by the sides or edge portions 4 and 5, which make an angle of ninety degrees with each other and form an apex at such place and the expansibility of the work-opening, whereby it may be enlarged or contracted. What may be termed the third side or edge 6, of the opening 8, is on angle; asat 7, and forming a reentrant bend atsuch place, and then curving outwardly near eaclrend,as at 8, and U-shaped in form, thence conti nuing straight at'9, to each end," and"which straight lines 9, maybe met fbythesides/l and 5, as shown in Figs; land '1 3," or may be "spaced awaytherefrom, buttin- "t -rse cted thereby when prolonged, as shown in Fig," 2, wherein the work-openingfi, is shown as expanded and made larger than in theO'therfigures. VVh1le as'already' suggested, the side 6, may be made to form true hypothenuse of a triangle of which the sides and 5, form the other twosides, and

inwhi'ch c'a'sethe side 6, would be straight,]'

" lifp referto form this third side 6, with a reheiitrant'b end or angle 7, to permit of the repeats orgroups being brought as close tojgether as practicable and thereby economize infthe length of the machine, than otherwise poss ble," and this 18 one of the important advantages of myimprovenients. This featureofthe invention will'be made clear by reference to ig. 1, wherein three'pieces of WorklO, are shown as placed in three of the hblders'fand stretched across the openings 3, thereof. By' virtue of having the side 6, of the opening formed with V a reentrant part 7, which lies well in the right-angle formed bythe sides 4 and 5,'the pieces 'of work can be brought closer to each other than if the side 6, of the work-opening were ast'raight line like a truehyp'othenuseof a triangle, though my invention covers this latter form and the work 1s given an extended and firm 'snpport close up to the 'de'signthat is being embroidered.

'Inthe construction herein shown in Figs. If to 7, the holder plates or frames each'shaped'alike, and the shape is on the order of a V, with the inner'edg'es'thereof formedby the right'angled lines l and 5, i and the outer edges formed U-shaped by the curved or bending portions 7 and 8, 8, with the straight ends 9, 9, the extreme ends of the V figure being rather broad as at 11.

As this line 6, forms the outer edges of the V shape, and the right-angled lines 4 and 5, form the inner edges thereof, the angle r "center part of the figure is relatively very narrow, so that when two of said frames or plates are brought together in the same "is -then contracted to its smzillestsize.

space in the embroidering machine and en-, 1 able the user'to assemble a greater nui'nher ofrepeats orpieces ofwork in a given space V apart from each other, instead of being in 'work is spanned. work-opening formed by two of the'adjaplanewith the apices of the right-angles pointing in the same direction, or the V forms nesting in each other, there is provided the peculiar form of work-opening 3, which is very long when measured on the lines 4 and 5, and is comparatively wide at any point across from said lines. The opening 8, accordingly furnishes a substantially V-shaped 'work-field for the embroidering needle to move over and the area of the same is substantially large and is so disposed as toen'able the user to embroiderlarge corner-designs running a considerable distance along the sides 4; and 5, and of a substantial wi'dth, without having to remove the work when partly completed andchangmg its position in the holder totontinue the design and complete the same.

-i Vhen the adjacent edges of a pair of the adjustable frames 2, come together, as at 12, in Figs. 1 and 3, the work-'opening'is closed at all points of its outline and theopening The frames or plates 2,lare however detacl'iably and adjustably mounted on thesupports 1, 1, by means of pins or screws "13, 13, passing through holes 14,14, in the respective ends'of the frames, and this per-- mits of the frames b'eing'detached and adjusted relatively to eachfother" along the length of the supports in theplane' of the frames, so that the frames may be spaced contact, and this" serves to expandthe size of the work-opening 3, as shown inflFig. 2, and therebygreatly increase the width of each branch of the V-forin over which the This exp'ansibility of the cent frames or plates is an important 'fea ture of my invention.

The piece of work 10, such 'for' example as an ordinary pocket handkerchief, is stretched over the work-opening 3, and held taut insuch positionduring the' embroidering operation, by means of a Centering pin 15, at the apex of the right-angle formed by the sides 4 and 5, of the opening, one corner of the piece of'work being first pushed over this pin to properly position 'ancl'centerthe piece'of material. Then the two adjacent edges of this corner are laid along the marginsof the two'edges a and'5, over'the clamping-grooves l6, and 17, which run along said margins respectively. These grooves 16, and'lr', receive clamping-bars 18 and 19, respectively, 'which' 'are' forced down on the workfand clamp it in said grooves to hold ittaut. These bars are provided at their outer ends with pintles or lugs 20 and 21, respectively, which are adapted to turn in eyes or sockets 22 and'23', respectively, which are located on the upper face of the frame 2. This permits of the clamping-bars being swung vertically on their bearings, so that when the work-piece 10, is placed in position with the bars raised, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the bars may be lowered onto the piece and then forced down into the groove into which the bar fits, and thereby securely clamp and hold the piece in place. On the frame 2, near the outer ends of the clamping-bars, are arranged turn-pieces or buttons, 24 and 25, which may be turned to engage the upper side of the respective bars 18 and 19, and thereby serve to lock them in clampingposition during the operation of the machine. The hinged ends of the clampingbars 18 and 19, are rounded, as at 26, Fig. 7, to avoid a sharp place or corner which would tend to cut the goods when put in the holder.

A clamping-groove 27, is formed on th frame 2, along the margin of the side 6, of the work-opening, following the curved U- shaped outlines of the side, and a resilient strip of metal 28, is fitted to this groove so as to snap therein, so that when the piece 7; of work has been clamped by the twobars 18 and 19, and is drawn taut across the work-opening 3, without wrinkles, it is pulled over the sinuous clamping-groove 2?, and the clamping-strip 28, is thereupon forced down on the piece which is pushed into the groove by the strip and firmly held therein, the resiliency of the metal strip serving to retain itself in the groove. Thus the curves in the sinuous clamping-groove 27, make the engaging resilient strip selfretaining in the groove, and this is one advantage in having this groove so formed, instead of being straight. It will also be noted that the outer ends of the clampingstrip 28, curve to conform to the curvature 8, 8, at each end of. the edge '6, of the workopening 3, and that the strip 28 does not terminate abruptly or short of the end of the work-opening, for in the latter case, the ends of this strip would be apt to cut or lacerate the materialof the work, so that I thus avoid all liability of perforating or in-. juring the material, when the same is placed inthe holder and clamped in place under tension, and obtain perfect spanning of the piece of work in the holder. 7 i

The pieces of work 10, which I show here in, after being spanned and clamped in operative position across their respective work openings, as hereinabove described, have their free ends rolled up, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, so as to bring the tin-spanned material into a snug bunch to et it out of the way as much as possible. wing to the form of the work-opening and the arrangement of the clamping-strip 28, the rolled piece takes the form of a V, and is very compact, occupying only the narrow space lying between the curved side 6, of its own holder and the right-angled sides 4 and 5, of the next succeeding holder, andin this out of the way position, the roll is clamped by a small spring-clamp 29, at abo ut the center of the roll, While the respective ends of the roll are drawn under spring-fingers 30 and 31, respectively, which are arranged on the frames or plates 2, near the ends thereof. In addition to the spring-c1amp 29, other clamps may be used for the roll of material to keep it well in place on the shelf-like space lying between the two opposite edges of a plate, and having a V shaped area.

As above stated the work-opening 3, may be enlarged or contracted by the proximity of two adjacent plates 2, 2, to each other, and the plates are made adjustable in their own planes for this purpose. In Figs. 1 and 8, the plates are shown as in edge contact so that the opening 3, is of the minimum size for these particular plates, while in Fig. 2, the plates are spaced quite a distance apart, thereby enlarging the work-opening. This adjustment of the size of the work-opening is provided for, in order to accommodate different sizes of designs or patterns, and it gives the holder a wide range and capacity iii this respect. It will also be noted that the peculiar form or contour of the workopening results from the peculiar shape of the V form of plate, the V having its arms of narrower width near the point than at the outer ends, the cross-section gradually increasing from the point outwardly.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, a single plate 2, is employed in place oftwo separate ones, and this plate is formedwith a n0n-expansible work-opening 3 the clamping-bars and grooves and the detachable spring clamping strip being the same as hereinbefore described. This form possesses all of the advantages of the other, except that of having the capacity to vary the size of the work-opening.

The frames or plates are'n'iounted in any suitable manner and in some construc tion of machines they are arranged in the same vertical plane in a horizontal row, for co-operating with the-needles. in the usual way, while in other cases the plates may be disposed horizontally.

The plates or frames 2, of the holder, may be made of any suitablematerial, such for example as brass or bronze, and may be cast or rolled and made from any kind of sheet-metal suitable for the purpose, the

character of the plate lending itself .to'

stamping or die-workin forming. it from sheet-metal. The size of the plates maybe made to suit the particular: class of work with which it is to be usedand the mounting of the plates may be varied to fit the special embroidering machine that is equipped with the plates and-which employ I a large number of similarly operated needles in gangs or sets, in a mannerwell-known acent the invention.

and which it is not necessary to illustrate herein. As indicated herein, the plates are made-as a unit with the edge grooves for the different clamping devices and the latter are mounted in place on the plates as shown so that each is complete in itself.

From the foregoing description, it will now be readily understood that by reason of the peculiar construction and arrangement of the work-opening of my improved hold-.

ers, I am able to place in a given length of space, more repeats or groups of pieces of work, than with the heretofore known constructions of holders, for it will be seen that the V shaped openings permit of the same being brought closer together than would be the case were the openings of a different shape. The V forms are arranged with their points in the same direction and with a nesting efiect, thereby increasing the pro duction or repeats on a given size of machine. I am also enabled to insure greater accuracy in the work of the designs when finished and the spanning of the-cloth or work is perfect. The design shown at 32, in Fig. 3, may be completed throughout by the use of my improved holder, without shifting the position of the work in the holder, as the peculiar shape of the work opening permits the needle to operate over the entire space occupied by the design, whereas with the use of the holders now in use, having a straight or rectangular work-path, only a part of certain corner-designs can be done at a time, the work being removed and shifted in the holder to complete the other half, with the inevitable result of making defective pieces of work, as the lines or places cannot be matched in renewing the embroidering after the work has been shifted in the holder. It will thus be seen that my peculiar form of elongated work-opening which bends or turns in its course, has im-- portant advantages over the prior forms of such devices, and, as each of the co-operating holder frames is adjustable, the respective work-openings thereof are thereby made expansible to accommodate designs of,

different sizes. It will also be noted that my improved work-holder frame or member is made in a single-piece and each one carries fabric or work clamping devices disposed along each of its two opposite edges. which edges form part, respectively, of adwork-openings. The structure is thus a unitary one that is self-contained, in that it is of one-piece and itself carries the fabric clamping devices.

I wish to be understood as not limiting my invention to theparticular constructions and arrangements herein set forth, as it is evident that various modifications may be made in different parts of the same, with out, however, departing from the spirit of Having thus described my invention, what I claim-and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an embroidering machine, a workholder having a work-opening across which the material is placed with one side of said opening having a V-shaped formation and the opposite side thereof formed substantially U-s'haped with the apex of the latter projecting towardsand in line with the apex of the former, clamping-grooves extending along the edges of said V-sha-pe, clamping bars hinged near the outer ends of said ashape and closing towards the apex thereof and means for holding said clamping-bars in closed positions, and a clamping member arranged along the edgeof said U shaoe for securing the work material at said point.

2. In an embroidering machine, a series of work-holders provided with work-openings and each holder comprising a pair of frames each of which has its outer edge formed U- shaped and its inner edge formed V-shaped with the apices thereof projecting in the same line axially with each other, means for clamping the work material along each of said edges, said pair of frames being mounted adjacent each other, so that the intermediate space between the inner edge of one frame and the adjacent outer edge of the other forms a work-openhwx 3. In an embroidering machine, a workholder consisting in one piece members adjustable relatively to each other, the said members being constructed to be arranged adjacent to each other and each pair providing a work-opening therebetween, each of said members being provided upon opposite edges with work clamping means carried thereby and engaging the adjacent ends or parts of two separate pieces of work, said worlcclamping means being movable with said adjustable members.

4. In an embroidering machine, a workholder having a work-opening across which the material is stretched and constructed and arranged to permit the em'broidering to be done in the corner of the work and for a considerable distance along each of the meeting edges at said corner, said work-holder comprising a pair of separable 'co-operating members one of which has its inner edge formed V-shaped and the other having its outer edge formed with a salient projecting into and reentrant with respect to said vshaped edge, said members being relatively adjustable to enlarge or decrease said workopening in order to extend or contract the area at the corner of the work where the em broidering is done, the said reentrant part of said member giving an extended and firm support to said work at said corner and making the holder more compact and caus ing it to occupy less space. 5. An embroidering-machine work-holder IOU having an opening across which the work is stretched, said work opening having a part of its edge formed with an angle, means for securing said work along the sides forming the angle, the said opening having an edge portion lying opposite the said angle and projecting into said angle so as to be reentrant therewith, said opposite side being provided with a sinuous clamping groove and a detached clamping strip of resilient material adapted to engage said groove and retain itself and the work therein by the resiliency of said strip.

6. An embroidering-machine work-holder comprising separate co-operating plates having opposing edges cut-away with one edge reentrant with respect to the other to form therebetween a substantially V shaped work-opening and so that three of said plates cooperate to provide two of said workopenings, and means for securing the work in spanned position across said opening.

7. An embroidering-machine work-holder including sets of co-operating plates having opposing angular edges forming a workopening and relatively adjustable to vary the work-opening between them, and means for clamping the work in spanned position across the opening between the plates.

8. An embroidering-machine work-holder member having the edge thereof at one side formed substantially V-shaped and the edge thereof at the oppositeside formed with a salient and constructed and arranged so that when a set of said members is placed side by side in cooperating positions an elongated work-openingis provided between opposing edges of adjacent members with said salient part reentrant with respect to said V-shaped edge and three of said members may cooperate to provide two of said work-openings.

9. An embroidering-machine work-holder plate shaped substantially like a V and gradually increasing in width from the apex toward each end and having clamping means mounted onits opposite edges and carried thereby.

10. Embroideringmachine work-holders comprising a set of V-shaped plates adapted to be placed in cooperating positions side by side with the apices of said V-shapes disposed in the same direction in nesting ar rangement so as to provide work-opening between adjacent plates, and relatively adjustable to vary the size of the work-opening and work-clamping means located on the opposing edges of adjacent plates, whereby three of said plates may cooperate to provide two of said work-openings.

ll. Embroidering machine work-holders comprising a series of relatively adjustable plates substantially V shaped and so constructed as to permit of the plates being placed in side-byside relation so that two adjacent plates form between them a workopening having an edge part substantially right-angled and another edge part opposite said angle, and releasable clamping devices located along said right-angled part and said opposite edge.

12. An embroidering-machine workholder comprising substantially V shaped frames constructed and arranged so as to provide a Work-opening between adjacent frames, clamping means arranged along the opposite edges of each frame with a shelflike space between the same for receivin the rolled surplus of cloth or material and means carried by said frames for securing said rolled material in place.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this day of December 21, A. D. 1921.

CHARLES E. RUESCH. 

